Hibs make double signing swoop

Hibs have today confirmed a double swoop, with the signing of Frenchman Steven Thicot and former Melbourne Knights left back Joe Keenan.


Joe Keenan

Keenan, 26, has signed a two-year-deal with the Hibees after impressing on trial at the £5.1m East Mains training facility.

The former Chelsea and Brentford player can play at both left back and in the centre of midfield.

Keenan joins from Australian A-League side Melbourne Knights after joining the Hibees for pre-season training and impressing manager Mixu Paatelainen.

Paatelainen said:

"Joe has quite a lot of experience and you don't get to the fringes of Chelsea's first team without having talent. He was very unlucky to break his leg when he did but he's over that and has gained quite a lot of experience playing in Holland, Belgium and Australia, learning different styles of football.

"Joe is technically excellent, he has good awareness and is a good passer of the ball. He's also very fit, he could run all day if you were to ask him."





Hibs have also secured the signing of French defensive midfielder Steven Thicot on a three-year-deal.

Thicot joins from French side Nantes, after another successful trial spell at the Hibees East Mains training facility.

He has been on trial at Easter Road over the last couple of weeks and highly impressed the Hibs management team of Mixu Paatelainen and Donald Park.

Thicot played against both Raith Rovers and Barcelona in pre-season friendlies and comes highly recommended.

The 21-year-old has been capped at U16, U17, U18 and U19 level with the French national team and is a product of the famous French national academy at Clairefontaine.

He can play anywhere across the back four, but is probabley strongest as a defensive midfielder, and Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen was equally excited about signing Thicot, he said:

"Steven is a solid player who can play anywhere along the back four or as a defensive midfielder.

"He's a product of the French national academy at Clairefontaine and has played through all the youth levels for their national sides. He's always been a very bright prospect, he's still a young player who is ambitious and wants to come here and play.

"The fact we've agreed a three-year deal shows a commitment from both sides and I'm delighted to get a player of his calibre.

"Sometimes it can be difficult for a young player to make the breakthrough and a change of scene can help give them that chance. Hopefully, that will prove to be the case with Steven. The demands are very high in first-team football when you are involved with a big club like Nantes.

"He told me he wanted to play in Britain and he felt this was the right club for him as he wants to play, develop and make progress. Our new training ground also played a big role in persuading him. He wants to join us and help take the club forward.

"Steven has a pedigree, he's been recognised as one of the brightest talents in France and hopefully that will flourish here at Easter Road."

Welcome to the Hibees lads.

Finally some movement in the transfer market, let's hope big Mixu can add another couple of players before the season starts.

Thanks once again to Alan Rennie and the Hibernian Interactive team for the use of the photo.

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